Game ID: 22500946
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 11:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 16 29 39 36 120MIN 21 24 23 38 106
LAL vs MIN ScoutingLAL vs MIN Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAL availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 22 min since (75% of 30)
LAL availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 4 min (24% of 17)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 20 min since (69% of 30)
LAL availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Smith Jr. missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 23 min since (78% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 4 min since (24% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 3 since 3/03, returns tonight: 10 min (97% of 10)
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 23 min since (78% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 13 min since (75% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 11 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 12 min since (71% of 17)
BACK Kleber back 3/08 after 3, 10 min since (97% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 3 since 3/06, returns tonight: 33 min (98% of 34)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 12 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 13 min since (75% of 17)
BACK Kleber back 3/08 after 3, 10 min since (97% of 10)
NEW Hayes 18 to 23 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 2 since 3/10, returns tonight: 21 min (116% of 18)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 13 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK James back 3/12 after 3, 33 min since (98% of 34)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 12 min since (72% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 14 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK James back 3/12 after 3, 37 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Hayes back 3/14 after 2, 21 min since (116% of 18)
LAL availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 2 since 3/14, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 15 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 4 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK James back 3/12 after 3, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Hayes back 3/14 after 2, 16 min since (90% of 18)
NEW Reaves 35 to 40 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT Clark missed 2 since 2/24, out tonight
BACK Conley back 2/22 after 6, 9 min since (53% of 18)
BACK Shannon Jr. back 2/22 after 26, 9 min since (66% of 14)
MIN availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 3 since 2/24, out tonight
BACK Conley back 2/22 after 6, 9 min since (53% of 18)
BACK Shannon Jr. back 2/22 after 26, 9 min since (66% of 14)
MIN availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 2 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Shannon Jr. missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 3 min (23% of 14)
OUT Clark missed 4 since 2/24, returns tonight: 3 min (26% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 3 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 3 min since (23% of 14)
BACK Clark back 3/05 after 4, 3 min since (26% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/10 · 2 days' restOUT Conley missed 4 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 6 min since (40% of 14)
BACK Clark back 3/05 after 4, 4 min since (31% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/11 · back-to-backOUT Conley missed 5 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 6 min since (45% of 14)
BACK Clark back 3/05 after 4, 4 min since (31% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Clark back 3/05 after 4, 4 min since (35% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 7 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Clark back 3/05 after 4, 4 min since (35% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 8 since 3/01, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and James at 20 a game. Without James (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and Randle at 14 a game. Without Conley (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to Minnesota's 32. Call it the Lakers 115, Minnesota 110.
3/03 vs NOP 110-101 — LAL notes
LAL won 110-101. LAL shot 47% (39 of 83) to NOP's 42%, 11 of 37 from three, and went to the line 26 times to NOP's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 17. Dončić led with 27 (10 of 22, 3 of 10 from three); James added 21, Reaves 15. The hinge was Q4, 34-23: LAL came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 9. Hayes was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/05 @ DEN 113-120 — LAL notes
LAL lost 113-120. LAL took 12 more shots (87 to 75), but shot 52% to DEN's 52%, 13 of 31 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DEN's 31. LAL turned it over 10 times to DEN's 18. Dončić led with 27 (11 of 24, 3 of 10 from three); Hayes added 19, Reaves 16. Q3 was theirs, 32-29, the deficit cut from 10 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 91-81 against them. LaRavia's -16 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 vs IND 128-117 — LAL notes
LAL won 128-117. LAL shot 53% (45 of 85) to IND's 47%, 17 of 37 from three. LAL turned it over 12 times to IND's 7, and IND turned those into 10 steals. Dončić led with 44 (14 of 25, 7 of 14 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 19, Kennard 15. The hinge was Q1, 35-27: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Kennard was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/08 vs NYK 110-97 — LAL notes
LAL won 110-97. LAL shot 43% (35 of 81) to NYK's 43%, 15 of 44 from three, and went to the line 30 times to NYK's 21 — 25 points from the stripe to their 19. LAL turned it over 13 times to NYK's 18. Dončić led with 35 (11 of 25, 5 of 16 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 25, Hachimura 13. The hinge was Q3, 34-20: a lead of 5 became 19, and the lead reached 23. Smart was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/10 vs MIN 120-106 — LAL notes
LAL won 120-106. LAL shot 48% (45 of 93) to MIN's 46%, 11 of 38 from three. LAL turned it over 6 times to MIN's 11. Reaves led with 31 (10 of 20, 4 of 10 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Dončić added 31, Ayton 14. The hinge was Q3, 39-23: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/12 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and Reaves at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without James (3 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sexton at 25 and Buzelis at 23 a game. Without Simons (8 straight), Collins (34 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Lakers 118, Chicago 112.
3/14 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Hayes (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 122, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 30 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Watson (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 30 free throws a game to the Lakers' 23 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 114 a night to Denver's 122. Call it the Lakers 120, Denver 117, Denver keeping it close.
3/16 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Thompson at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Houston's 28 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to the Lakers' 11. Call it the Lakers 116, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
3/18 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 27 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Reaves at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and the Lakers minus-2 and the arc, the Lakers at 34 percent from three to Houston's 27. Call it the Lakers 114, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
3/01 @ DEN 117-108 — MIN notes
MIN won 117-108. MIN shot 54% (46 of 85) to DEN's 48%, 14 of 36 from three, and got to the line 19 times to DEN's 27. Edwards led with 21 (9 of 19, 3 of 9 from three); McDaniels added 20, Hyland 18. The hinge was Q2, 36-19: MIN came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 8. McDaniels was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/03 vs MEM 117-110 — MIN notes
MIN won 117-110. MIN shot 48% (40 of 84) to MEM's 46%, 10 of 34 from three. The glass went 52-33 for them. Edwards led with 41 (15 of 29, 7 of 13 from three); Randle added 23, McDaniels 16. The hinge was Q3, 32-20: MIN came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 7, and the lead reached 17. MIN trailed 57-62 at the half and won the second half 60-48. DiVincenzo was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/05 vs TOR 115-107 — MIN notes
MIN won 115-107. MIN shot 52% (42 of 81) to TOR's 49%, 13 of 31 from three. Edwards led with 22 (8 of 12, 5 of 8 from three); Gobert added 18, Randle 17. The hinge was Q3, 35-22: a lead of 1 became 14, and the lead reached 18. Dosunmu was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/07 vs ORL 92-119 — MIN notes
MIN lost 92-119. MIN shot 36% (30 of 84) to ORL's 46%, 9 of 40 from three. The glass went 37-58 against them. Edwards led with 34 (8 of 18, 5 of 9 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Randle added 14, Reid 13. Q1 was theirs, 30-27, but the other 3 periods went 92-62 against them. McDaniels's -23 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/10 @ LAL 106-120 — MIN notes
MIN lost 106-120. MIN shot 46% (37 of 80) to LAL's 48%, 10 of 40 from three. MIN turned it over 11 times to LAL's 6. Edwards led with 14 (2 of 15, 1 of 10 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Randle added 14, Reid 13. Q1 was theirs, 21-16, but the other 3 periods went 104-85 against them. DiVincenzo's -15 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/11 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Mathurin at 19 a game. Without Collins (5 straight), Bogdanović (6 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Randle at 16 a game. Without Conley (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 36 percent from three to Minnesota's 31. Call it the Clippers 117, Minnesota 111.
3/13 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Podziemski at 18 and Melton at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Ste. Curry (15 straight), Moody (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 29 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Conley (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where Minnesota takes 29 free throws a game to Golden State's 18 and the glass, where Minnesota has been minus-1 a night and Golden State minus-6. Call it Golden State 117, Minnesota 113, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/15 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Jal. Williams (12 straight), Hartenstein (3 straight), Sandfort (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 123, shooting 50 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and Reid at 14 a game. Without Conley (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 107 a night to Minnesota's 123 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 118, Minnesota 110.
3/17 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 16 a game. Without Conley (8 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Booker at 34 and Green at 28 a game. Without Brooks (11 straight), Williams (7 straight), Dunn (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 16 times a game to Phoenix's 10 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 113 a night to Minnesota's 125. Call it Phoenix 116, Minnesota 115, Minnesota keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAR A. Reaves
AT A. Thiero
DA D. Ayton
DT D. Timme
DO Doncic
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Vanderbilt
JA James
KB K. Bufkin
LD L. Dončić
LK L. Kennard
MS M. Smart
RH R. Hachimura
MINAD A. Dosunmu
AE A. Edwards
BH B. Hyland
BE Beringer
DD D. DiVincenzo
IN Ingles
JC J. Clark
JM J. McDaniels
JP J. Phillips
JR J. Randle
KA K. Anderson
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
TS T. Shannon Jr.
LAL/MIN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Luka's 31, Reaves' big 2nd half propel Lakers to season sweep of Timberwolves with 120-106 victory
LOS ANGELES -- — Luka Doncic had 31 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame LeBron James ' latest injury absence to sweep their season series with the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 120-106 victory Tuesday night.
Austin Reaves scored 29 of his 31 points in a scorching second half for the Lakers (40-25), who pulled even with Minnesota for fourth place in the Western Conference standings after their third straight win over the team that knocked them out of the first round of last season’s playoffs.
Doncic secured the 89th triple-double of his career — seventh-most in NBA history — early in the fourth quarter. Deandre Ayton had 14 points and 12 rebounds in a strong effort with both of his backup big men sidelined.
James sat out for the third straight game with injuries for the Lakers, who have still won three straight and six of seven. He also missed the Lakers' first two wins over Minnesota this season back in October.
The Lakers improved to 13-8 without the top scorer in NBA history in their lineup, including 10-2 when Doncic and Reaves both play without James.
Julius Randle scored 14 points and Anthony Edwards finished with 14 points on a 2-for-15 shooting night for Minnesota, which has lost two straight after a five-game winning streak. Four Timberwolves bench players scored in double figures in the opener of a four-game trip.
Both teams were mostly awful on offense in the first half. The Lakers missed 17 of their first 21 shots during their 16-point first quarter.
But after a 1-for-8 first half, Reaves scored 16 points in the third quarter while the Lakers pushed their lead to 19. Reaves completed two four-point plays in the second half, and he finished with a season-high seven 3-pointers.
Up next Timberwolves: At Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.